Non-Hardy Cacti and Succulent Collection Curation Internship, Intern

Description

About Denver Botanic Gardens: Green inside and out, Denver Botanic Gardens was founded in 1951 and is considered one of the top botanical gardens in the United States and a pioneer in water conservation. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, The Gardens has a robust living plant collection, natural history collection and art collection along with temporary art exhibitions. The Gardens is a dynamic, 24-acre urban oasis in the heart of the city, offering unforgettable opportunities to flourish with unique garden experiences for the whole family – as well as world-class exhibitions, education, and plant conservation research programs. 

For more information, visit us online at www.botanicgardens.org.

Denver Botanic Gardens is currently seeking a Non-Hardy Cacti and Succulent Collection Curation Internship, Intern in our Horticulture Department! Read below to see if the requirements might be a good fit for you:

Position Summary and Goals:  

Denver Botanic Gardens is a living museum -- our living collections are continuously changing and require accurate and current documentation, including our Non-Hardy Cacti and Succulent Collection. The intern will have the opportunity to participate in the ongoing process of plant record-keeping and will learn the skills needed for updating plant inventory. The intern will also take photographs of specimens in the collection as needed. Documentation skills will be supplemented with hands-on experience through daily maintenance of the non-hardy cactus and succulent collection -- including watering, transplanting, organizing greenhouses, and creating displays. Hands-on work will occasionally overlap with the tropical collections and the maintenance of the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory.

Compensation package includes a housing stipend of $1,000. Details to be covered during the interview process.

Background:

Non-hardy cactus and succulent plants are an integral part of Denver Botanic Gardens’ cactus and succulent collection. Many of these plants cannot survive the harsh climactic conditions of Colorado winters and are therefore overwintered or permanently stored in a greenhouse setting. Non-hardy cactus and succulents are used in seasonal outdoor displays and can be viewed year-round in the Cactus and Succulent House. The larger goal of this collection is to house and present a diverse range of succulents from many regions of the world.

To be considered, please submit your application by Friday, January 30, 2026.

Requirements

Internship Highlights:

Interns will take part in field trips, lectures, and group projects. We at Denver Botanic Gardens feel strongly that there is no substitute for hands-on learning so in addition to the project and participating in the learning opportunities, interns are expected to work alongside their mentors and other horticulturists in the Gardens. This will include participating in the daily activities associated with public garden maintenance – weeding, watering, planting, accessioning, preparing for special events, etc. 

The goal of the internship is to provide an overview of public horticulture as well as useful experience in a specific area which can help interns define their interests in horticulture. 

 As a member of Denver Botanic Gardens staff, interns will participate in employee meetings and other day-to-day operations and will be subject to all Denver Botanic Gardens employment policies. 

In Denver temperatures can reach a sizzling 100° in mid-summer, while temperatures at our Mount Goliath site can drop into the 50’s. Humidity is very low here, however, there are occasional days of rain or drizzle. Interns should be prepared to work in these environmental extremes as the work site is primarily outdoors.

Regular attendance at the work site may be required. As with all positions at Denver Botanic Gardens, the incumbent must be in good performance standing to be eligible for remote work. Remote work is at the discretion of management at all times.

All Gardens employees must be committed to the mission of connecting people with plants, especially plants from the Rocky Mountain region and similar regions around the world, providing delight and enlightenment to everyone.

General Duties and Responsibilities/Deliverables:

• Create an inventory of the non-hardy cacti and succulent collection. 
• Update plant health notes for non-hardy cacti and succulent plant collection. 
• Organize and clean-up of the cactus and succulent greenhouse.  
• Photograph and document as needed. 
• Identify and update gaps in records.  
• Work with the plant records team to update records in BG-Base. 
• Research future acquisitions of plants and seeds from records compiled during recent field work in South Africa. 
• Presentation to staff and blog post detailing highlights of internship experience.

Skills that will be learned or refined:

• Photographing, inventorying and documenting a greenhouse collection. 
• Using software necessary to document larger plant collections. 
• Plant care and propagation of a diverse collection of succulents and cacti, especially from South Africa.
• Exhibiting and artfully presenting a diverse array of plants in seasonal displays and in the Cactus and Succulent House. 

Horticultural knowledge that will be learned and how this project will link classroom theory with practical experience:

The intern will learn how to care for and propagate a diverse group of plants with a strong focus on non-hardy cacti and succulent plants. These plants require specialized growing media, watering protocols, and propagation practices. 

Eligibility Requirements:

• Candidates must be currently authorized to work in the United States.
• High school diploma / GED and/or combination of education and equivalent experience is required.
• Experience/interest in plant conservation a plus.
• Experience/interest in working in a horticultural environment a plus.
• Must have proven excellent customer service, interpersonal, and communication skills in dealing with the public.
• Ability to maintain stability under pressure and able to deal well with stressful situations.
• Ability to be flexible and willing to modify plans, when necessary, throughout the day.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends and/or holidays.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Suite products, specifically Word, Excel and Outlook and Teams. 
• Ability to work overtime as necessary.
• Must be a positive representative of the Gardens both internally and externally at all times.
• Must work with respect and cooperation at all times with fellow employees and the public.
• Must be committed to working safely at all times.

To be considered, please submit your application by Friday, January 30, 2026.

Come work for a place that offers you SO much more than just a paycheck!

Salary : $22